2022 RECAP - My Top 10 Criterion Collection Discs of the Year

[@ElliotCoen]

If you want to buy any of the mentioned discs at great sale prices, check out the links in the video description above. Cheers!

[@borisbuliak3626]

I remember them times in the 70s, looks like it’s a coming back this way with a XXI century flavor.

[@FilmBloggerSam]

What a year Criterion have had. A return to form of sorts, at least for me. Some of these titles I haven't got due to importing costs etc but hope to pick them up one day. Those non-believers that say black and white films in 4K are redundant don't know what they are talking about. Thanks for sharing pal 👍

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks for watching pal!!

[@MrKahlerHahn]

I just love the calm nature of your videos. Great contrast to the constant loud, shrill in your face all out attack of 95% of youtube

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much :)

[@MyFireVideos]

Yes, I agree. Very soothing. Feels like sitting down with a friend.

[@malcolmstevenson6402]

I couldn't agree more with your choices. Both Double Indemnity and Breaking Point would make a wonderful double bill. The Shaft set is excellent and really a bargain.

[@ElliotCoen]

That’s a great idea for a double bill! Cheers Malcolm!

[@GA-1st]

Great recommendations! You can't go wrong with Billy Wilder! I always recommend "Double Indemnity" as an entry into film noir. But regardless of category, it's just a great movie. One of the most memorable moments in my life was attending ages ago a screening of "Some Like it Hot," followed by a Q&A with Mr. Wilder himself (and Jack Lemmon). He was so nice and generous with his time, and surprisingly open.

[@AuteurCinema]

Great list Elliot ! I think my favourite from 2022 would be Cure, but I just love that film 😂. Glad to see Rouge on here, hopefully 2023 will be a big year from Criterion. Much love and I wish you a speedy recovery ❤

[@ElliotCoen]

Cheers :) Cure would be on here no doubt if I’d picked it up yet. Absolutely love the film and can’t wait to get the new disc!

[@KBLovesMovies]

We share the #1 chive of the year. What an amazing restoration.

[@ElliotCoen]

Cheers KB!

[@stuartobrien78]

Hi Eliott, loved your department store footage of Arrow videos collection in Manchester. In Melbourne Australia, we only have Amazon and Ebay for a large choice. Bye Stuart.

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much Stuart!

[@princesmith8008]

@@ElliotCoen Would you say Double Indemnity is a better 4k transfer than Raging Bull?

[@TheAlexZorba]

Excellent top 10. Watch across 110th street and French Connection for more of that NYC from that Shaft period. My top 5 were Cure, Infernal Affairs , Raging Bull, Arsenic and Old Lace and Exotica. Black and white 4k films look incredible on an OLED.

[@darkpurplegoldroses]

always enjoy your content man thank you again!

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@kabilan2895]

Great recap as always 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much!

[@grantcurnowcomedy]

Thanks for recommending Round Midnight. I got it for xmas and loved it. Also noticed that simpsons episode where Lisa helps bleeding gums Murphy was inspired by the film.

[@ElliotCoen]

My pleasure. And yes, The Simpsons creators had a real keen eye for cinema (at least in those early seasons). Lots of references to find in those episodes!

[@Fingermush]

Thanks for recommending Mr. Kline

[@ElliotCoen]

My pleasure! Enjoy

[@Lazarusart]

Great round up, a few in there I was not aware of,thanks

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks Adrian!

[@peterorourke8495]

Glad to have you back Eliot. Always love your takes on the Criterion Collection.

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much Peter!

[@matth6932]

Double Indemnity is a gem. I have Rogue and Round Midnight on my watchlist. I watched Round Midnight years ago on basic cable. Looking forward to hearing and seeing the Criterion uptick! Thank-you again Elliot!

[@thomasinham]

can’t wait to watch pink flamingos w the fam

[@blu-rayswithnathanjones]

Such a fantastic year of releases! Your choices reminded me of the ones that I still need to pick up. Especially Written on the Wind and Mr. Klein. Thanks for the great video pal, here's to 2023!

[@ElliotCoen]

Thanks so much pal!

[@deneseepaul6882]

You sold me on "Rouge" sounds up my ally so I'm definitely gonna have to snag a copy of that title, thanks!!!

[@garagegeek4863]

This was really fun and informative. From this list, I only picked up Pink Flamingos. I have done shopping to do!

[@willnoiles2001]

Like you, Elliott, I would agree that 'Double Indemnity' was the number one Criterion release of 2022. My only beef with this release is that it didn't include the TVM remake with Richard Crenna that was on the original DVD and BluRay releases. My number two would be 'Summertime' with Katharine Hepburn, but it unfortunately only got a BluRay release. And in the third spot would be 'Wall-E.' Now to see if Disney will outsource more of their catalogue titles...

[@spaceodds1985]

Raging Bull was the first Criterion I imported this decade, followed by Lost Highway. Both of which were surprise announcements.

[@deneseepaul6882]

I think Lino Brockas "Manila in the claws of light" was a BIG inspiration for Scorseses "Taxi Driver" if I am not mistaken.

[@ElliotCoen]

Oh yes, I think I’d heard that before. I love Brocka’s films! Manila a is brutal one

[@artirony410]

lol I had to watch Pink Flamingos in my film theory class last semester because we were reading film theory on films where the purpose is to elicit disgust

[@harryorenstein1144]

I'm a newcomer to your channel, and am really enjoying catching up on your programs. As far as this one goes, absolutely agree with Double Indemnity - one of the earliest and, in my opinion, still the best film noir. Hands down, Barbara Stanwyck's best performance, and what a joke that Fred MacMurrary was not even nominated, especially when you realize that Barry Fitzgerald got nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting actor for the same role! And winner Bing Crosby's performance was bland at best.

[@decyphersmc]

Just got around to watching my copy of Pink Flamingos recently. Surprised to find out the barf bag was only included in a limited first run of it and is not just part of the regular package. I didn't think Criterion did variations on what was included in a film package

[@ElliotCoen]

Hi. Did you buy the UK copy? I believe no barf bags came with the UK release, just the US release. Cheers for watching!

[@decyphersmc]

@@ElliotCoen US release. I emailed them and they said it was only for a limited run. Not a big deal though. Still need to check out the extras they included

[@darrenblizzard3851]

Definitely some nice picks there. I'm a bit behind on my Criterion purchasing mainly given the sheer volume of things coming out vs limited cash to spend. I think I subconsciously de-prioritise Criterion for other labels given they are not generally limited runs and tend to hang around a long time and always include the booklet unlike many other boutiques but of course that means I'm missing out on picking up a great deal of very amazing films. I still don't own any Criterion 4ks. Well I did order Menace II Society in 4k but when it arrived I realised I accidentally ordered the standard Blu ray lol. It still looks great so I just stuck with it in the end rather than stuff around with doing a return. So I have the now quite old Masters of Cinema edition of Double Indemnity. It's getting on a bit and although it looks very good I'm guessing this new Criterion 4k blows it away significantly?

[@ElliotCoen]

Hey Darren. I understand what you mean about deprioritising Criterions vs other limited edition blu-rays. I think you’re not alone there. I too have the Eureka disc of Double Indemnity and I do believe the Criterion 4K is much better when you compare the two, though the Eureka disc is still completely fine! Cheers

[@darrenblizzard3851]

@@ElliotCoen thanks for confirming Elliot. I think I'll try and pick up the Double Indemnity 4k as it's amazing noir and an amazing film in general. I agree with on Billy Wilder by the way. He and Michael Curtiz are two of the greatest directors in Hollywood history as far as I am concerned.

[@richardking3206]

I’d love you to do your top ten of the UK Criterion releases, please. The U.K. releases get almost no coverage at all, and I don’t even know if they are listed anywhere? I bought the UK release of Mr Klein (on Studio Canal blu) and thought it excellent. Probably from the same source as the Criterion. I’ve wanted the Criterion blu of Walker, and have been hoping for a UK release, but no joy yet, sadly. Alex Cox does seem to have become a ‘lost’ British director. He made some good films, and I enjoy a bit of weird. Maybe I’ll have to cough for the US release, which I’ll do immediately before they announce a UK blu, naturally.

[@jakedanx]

Love how US release don’t have the age certificate plastered everywhere.

[@ElliotCoen]

Yeah it’s ideal!

[@allfinesunshine5184]

I'm quite interested to hear you dive into Douglas Sirk for a video, a filmmaker I'm not overly familiar with, but I do believe Criterion have slated two films of his to be released in the UK.

[@linuszhang6235]

Very nice selection! Any plan for an overall 2022 top 10 for all Boutique Bluerays?

[@ElliotCoen]

Hey, yes I do plan to do that in a video coming soon! Cheers

[@linuszhang6235]

@@ElliotCoen Brilliant!

[@juancmorenor]

Dear Elliot , happy 2023 watching very good films! I match only three films from your list: Pink Flamingos, Mr Klein and Raging Bull! What are you 2023 Criterion release predictions?

[@make_it_good]

I ended up picking up a decent amount of Criterions this year, and yet somehow I didn't have any crossover with this list. 😅 All of these titles are on my radar (particularly Double Indemnity), so it's just a matter of time! I've been thinking of delving into some of Douglas Sirk's work through the Criterion Collection. Of the three films on there, do you have any suggestions of where I should start? Is there a film you think I should seek out before those titles?

[@paulmassey1223]

Why is it the uk criterion edition of dazed and confused out of print in the uk I am puzzled why this I do not understand why criterion uk stopped producing them

[@MrKahlerHahn]

Wonder how you‘d think double idemnity or racing bull would not make it to criterion though And as you mentioned wilder: some ernst lubitsch (his mentor) movies need to make it to criterion, like design for living f.e.

[@ElliotCoen]

I thought that the popularity of those two films would mean the license holders wouldn’t want to let the 4K rights go but I’m glad to be wrong! And I’m a huge Lubitsch fan! Criterion already have great releases of Design for Living, To Be or Not To Be, Cluny Brown, etc. Cheers for watching and commenting!

[@MrKahlerHahn]

@@ElliotCoen oh nice… i only got a poor german blu ray collection of lubitsch films.

[@jnicholls21]

Criterion's choices are so often baffling. Some real tosh. Why on Earth have they not released There Will Be Blood or The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford?

[@yogibear2k220]

Admitidley the last film I watched was probably in 2021 and I think was Shrek the Third. Terrible movie. I just never had much interest in films. I 100% prefer video games. I find just staring as a box aimlessly with doing anything, pointless. But that is just me.

[@shinrarango]

why r u watching this then?

[@yogibear2k220]

@@shinrarango Because I thought these were video games.

[@shinrarango]

@@yogibear2k220 haha fair enough

[@venessawatson9058]

Just get to the list blah blah blah

[@ElliotCoen]

Can you not have patience for literally a minute? 😂